Fluorescence spectroscopy of rhodopsins: insights and approaches.

ABSTRACT: Fluorescence spectroscopy has become an established tool at the interface of biology, chemistry and physics because of its exquisite sensitivity and recent technical advancements. However, rhodopsin proteins present the fluorescence spectroscopist with a unique set of challenges and opportunities due to the presence of the light-sensitive retinal chromophore. This review briefly summarizes some approaches that have successfully met these challenges and the novel insights they have yielded about rhodopsin structure and function. We start with a brief overview of fluorescence fundamentals and experimental methodologies, followed by more specific discussions of technical challenges rhodopsin proteins present to fluorescence studies. Finally, we end by discussing some of the unique insights th

SUBMITTER: Alexiev U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3965647 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature